Navy Looks to Continue Hot Start in Patriot League Opener at Lehigh

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Interstat) — A surging Navy squad will open Patriot League play against a struggling Lehigh team in a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at Legacy Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT, though forecasts call for rainy conditions and a temperature near 40 degrees.

The Midshipmen (12-4) enter conference action with significant momentum, having won 10 of their last 11 games. They are coming off a 15-8 road victory at Norfolk State on Tuesday, powered by a standout performance from shortstop Tyler Cripe.

Cripe, a key player to watch, went 3 for 4 with a home run and five RBIs in that win. Over his last 10 games, he is batting .333 (7 for 21) with two homers and seven RBIs.

Navy’s offense has averaged 7.2 runs per game during its recent hot stretch. In contrast, the Mountain Hawks (2-10) have lost eight of their last nine, allowing 8.7 runs per contest over that span.

A bright spot for Lehigh has been reliever Declan Wilkes. In his last outing against Saint Peter’s on Wednesday, he threw two scoreless and hitless innings. On the season, he has a 3.86 ERA over 4.2 innings across four appearances.

The teams’ recent trajectories are reflected in the analytics. Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-2 Navy victory, while its ELO rating system gives the Midshipmen a 55.4% probability to win the series opener.

This weekend series marks the start of Patriot League competition for both programs. Navy will look to establish an early conference advantage, while Lehigh aims to reset its season on home turf.

The series continues with games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Legacy Park.